A fine mess hits auction block

The Pate Collection from south of Fort Worth (down near Motorsports Ranch)

http://blog.bestoftexas.com/best/pate-museum-collection-to-be-auctioned-off-on-june-5th-preview-june-4th/

 

Some interesting cars but most of them look like they need lots of work.

 

I'll attend on Friday to get some last shots of the collection. It's a real shame to see this happen, the Pate museum was a important part of Fort Worth history as well as my own childhood. I've been visiting the museum since 1975.

On a final note: I can't believe RM didn't even attempt a proper detail for the catalog photos, maybe it wan't in the budget but it hurts the overall presentation for the sale.

 

Is there anything of interest?

 

Here are the photos I I took the day before the closing back in December of 09. It really is a real shame none of the collection was kept up properly, Pate inspired so many automotive & aircraft enthusiast over so many decades, this place will be deeply missed.

http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b228/wjhmh/2009%20Pate%20Museum%20last%20day/?start=all

 

Great pics. What an amazing collection.

 

So, I signed up as a bidder today. I'm going to split my time between MSR and the Auction... figure why not.

Anyone want me to throw some money at something for them?

I'm going for a few odd items like the church pews and models... maybe even catch a deal on one of the Delorean's < shrug >

Did anyone notice they are auctioning off the Church chapel too?

PM me if you are serious about wanting something for a price.

Steve

 

Anyone who attended please post your impressions of the auction

 

http://www.nbcdfw.com/around-town/cars/Oswalds-Getaway-Cab-on-the-Auction-Block-95628144.html

 

Results:

http://www.rmauctions.com/auctionresults.cfm?SaleCode=FW10

Write up from RM:

THE PATE COLLECTION ATTRACTS
ENTHUSIASTS FROM NEAR AND FAR
This past Saturday, June 5, RM Auctions offered The Pate Collection in Cresson, Texas to a packed house on the grounds of the former Pate Museum of Transportation. The sale attracted many locals who fondly remembered their childhood trips to the museum and were looking to own a piece of that history; bidders from other areas of the United States, as well as Europe, provided ample competition online and over the telephone. 43 vehicles and over 170 lots of memorabilia from the collection, along with a series of select private consignments, were offered without reserve. Ultimately, the event posted over $1.9 million in sales, with many lots exceeding their pre-sale estimates.
The top-seller of the day was the original 1935 Aston Martin MK II Tourer above, which doubled its pre-sale low estimate, selling for $187,000. The 1962 Checker Marathon Dallas Taxi Cab, believed to have been hailed by Lee Harvey Oswald following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, also spurred lively bidding, achieving $35,750 versus a pre-sale estimate of $20,000 - $30,000. The Checker Taxi Cab is headed to the Historic Auto Attractions museum in Rockford, Illinois, where it will join a large collection of other Kennedy memorabilia.
Visit the RM Auctions website for a full list of results.

 

I visited a friend this morning that cares for a private collection locally, the 1975 Trabant 601 Sedan & 1936 Lincoln Model K 7-Passenger Sedan were purchased buy his employer.

 

I arrived early enough to grab a seat close to the front and directly next to the phone bank. Also close enough to hear what was going on behind the scenes so to speak.

1. They did not give enough information on items for sale.
2. When the Trabrant went for double it's real value ( IMO ) I left early, knowing that the rest of the vehicles would follow suit. It's almost like the bidders did not hear the part about the cars have not been driven for many years and will require full mechanical restoration and may not have keys.
3. I was very supprised at the prices being paid for the non-automotive items, $500+ for vintage signage, I didnt realize there was such a market.
4. The phone bank staff kept losing signal and dropping calls in the middle of bidding war.. ( made me LoL a few times )
5. The staff were very polite.
6. Oh, it was hot!

It was an interesting event to attend - even though I didn't win anything.. though I tried on a few items.

Steve

 

He was sitting right next to me, I didn't mean to run it up for him, I just didnt think anyone else would be that interested in that car...

I had plans for it:
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wow. No bargains there - evey car was neglected and tired, albeit probably pretty complete and original. Texas money talking here.

 

Two of the Pate cars as they are now, I far as I know they will not be restored.
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What's that yellow one? Looks like it says Trabant.

 

Trabant it is.

 

That's what it is, the little basket case is going to remain a static display. BTW, I think they already found dead mice in the green Lincoln, go figure.

 

Was at the Yellow Rose Car Show this past weekend, and ran across a friend's father with one the the Pate cars. He attended the auction to grab the Shelby, but only ended up with the T-bird convertible....in green (similar to the "avocado" of 60s appliances, seriously!!). He displayed this car in the YRCS, for anyone who went.

It was the original World's Fair show car, with something to do with Disney (I can't recall exactly what, possibly the location of the WF), and one of only two in that color, with less than half the mileage of the other one, since it's been in Pate for almost all of its life. He only had to renew some of the Hydraulics, including the top mechanism, and the car was perfect. The top itself had been sealed under its cover, and is almost perfect. Other things found in back when they finally opened it (part of the hydraulics, remember) were original title, promo material and photos from the WF, and a bunch of Disney promo stuff, all in near-perfect condition.

Funky color, but jeez it was gorgeous. Watch for it at BJ.

 

C'mon... no one here can be too surprised that there will be no restoration for the Trabant. Doesn't the Trabbi consistently land honors in the various "Worst Cars Ever Made" lists in random magazines and auto focused web sites?

I was in Berlin for a few weeks in January of 1990, two months after the Wall came down. Sitting on the Wall and watching the flood of Trabants coming from East Berlin and flowing into West Berlin was quite a sight, and made for a very memorable vision, but doesn't change that it was one of the worst cars ever.

I guess what I'm trying to say is... this car is VERY well suited to a static display.

 

It's good to see these cars moved on to good owners after The Pates. Already being displayed at shows and mechanically renewed.